cliff, and the american people will hold them responsible. democrats also take issue with the proposal's spending cuts to medicare and social security. republican counter that tough cuts are needed to tackle the soaring debt, leaving washington locked in a stalemate, less than a month before every american sees their taxes shoot up. the gridlock has irritated people outside washington, like deborah page of arlington, texas. >> if i was working the way the president and congress was working, i would probably lose my job. >> reporter: page started a petition that would cease paychecks and health benefits for all members of congress and president obama if they can't avoid the fiscal cliff. the petition's chances are slim. but it's a reflection of americans' frustration with 28 days left. rob and paula? >> tahman bradley live in washington today. thank you, tahman. >>> and as talks over the fiscal cliff drag on, a new poll finds that most americans do not think very highly of congress. one in ten americans rate the honesty and ethical standards o